The series features Lopez in the lead role as Detective Harlee Santos, a single mother forced to snitch on her corrupt colleagues by the FBI after she is caught accepting a bribe. Liotta of “Goodfellas” fame also stars as Lieutenant Bill Wozniak. Lopez and Liotta also star opposite “Sopranos” actress Drea de Matteo as Detective Tess Nazario.

The series is set in Brooklyn and is based on the novel “Shades of Blue: 30 Years of (Un)ethical Policing” by Michael Rudolph. Executive producers of the series include Adi Hasak of “3 Days to Kill,” American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest, director Barry Levinson of “Wag the Dog” and “Homicide: Life on the Street,” as well as Lopez herself.

Both Lopez and Liotta filmed interior scenes for the series inside the Maspeth home of Claribel Vera on 58th Place and 57th Drive.

“This is so exciting,” Vera exclaimed. After shooting at the Vera home wrapped, Lopez emerged and posed for photos with fans, including Vera’s daughters Veronica and Annette, before leaving the set for the day.

Liotta and the rest of the crew then relocated to Middle Village where they dined on traditional Latin fare at Tropical 3 Restaurant, located at 62-27 Fresh Pond Rd. After enjoying an authentic Ecuadorian meal from owners Jimmy Illescas and Steven Vinas, Liotta resumed filming an exterior shot in a car outside the restaurant. Scores of locals gathered on 62nd Road to watch the shoot, many cheering when Liotta walked by. The actor appeared on set in special effects make-up, with fake bruises and a black eye.

Tropical 3 owners Jimmy Illescas and Steven Vinas welcomed Ray Liotta and the “Shades of Blue” crew to their restaurant during filming in Middle Village. (Photo courtesy of Sandra Gonzalez)

When filming wrapped, director Dan Lerner, of “In Plain Sight” and “The Blacklist” fame, thanked Illescas and Vinas for use of their establishment, and even sat to watch an original video made by Vinas’ young daughter on her iPad.

Liotta is no stranger to filming in Queens. Many of his scenes from the 1990 hit “Goodfellas” were filmed at the former Clinton Diner in Maspeth, as well on Maurice Avenue and the streets surrounding nearby Calvary Cemetery in Woodside.

“Shades of Blue” is set to air on NBC in the fall. Check local listings or click here for updates.

Queens’ Heejun Han found himself in American Idol’s bottom three vote getters for the first time this season, but survived to advance to the show’s top 9 and keep his Idol dream alive.

Han was joined by DeAndre Brackensick and Erika Van Pelt as the bottom three vote getters with Van Pelt being sent home.

After being saved Han tweeted to his followers, “Thank you so much for giving me another chance.”

Han has now advanced as far as fellow Queens crooner Pia Toscano made it on last year’s show.

This week, the Idol top 10 tackled the songs of Billy Joel. Han previously performed Joel’s “New York State of Mind” last month in his final performance before the judges chose the top 24 semifinalists.

This time, the Flushing-native sang “My Life,” but not before starting with something “much too slow.”

Han entered the stage in a tuxedo seemingly to perform a ballad, but as the piano began, Han ripped off his tuxedo and requested something he could dance to.

In a seeming preemptive to the judge’s criticism, Han sang “I don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life,” during his “My Life” performance.

“I love that you brought a little fun to tonight, that was a breath of fresh air,” said Jennifer Lopez, but added that she did not think he hit the vocal as well as he can.

Steven Tyler told Han he has to take his singing a little more seriously.

“There were still some vocal problems, but as much as you were entertaining I was just happy to see you have a good time,” Jackson said. “We’ve become to know you as a funny dude. I loved that part of it.”

Queens’ Heejun Han lit up the American Idol stage with the bright personality he has become known for, though the judges felt his vocals were lacking luster.

This week, the Idol top 10 tackled the songs of Billy Joel. Han previously performed Joel’s “New York State of Mind” last month in his final performance before the judges chose the top 24 semifinalists.

This time, the Flushing-native sang “My Life,” but not before starting with something “much too slow.”

Han entered the stage in a tuxedo seemingly to perform a ballad, but as the piano began, he ripped off his tuxedo and requested something he could dance to.

In a seeming preemptive to the judge’s criticism, Han sang “I don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life,” during his “My Life” performance.

“I love that you brought a little fun to tonight, that was a breath of fresh air,” said Jennifer Lopez, but added that she did not think he hit the vocal as well as he can.

Steven Tyler told Han he has to take his singing a little more seriously.

“There were still some vocal problems, but as much as you were entertaining I was just happy to see you have a good time,” Jackson said. “We’ve become to know you as a funny dud. I loved that part of it.”

Viewer votes will choose the Idol hopeful who will be sent home tonight on Fox 5 at 8 p.m.

Heejun Han landed in “American Idol’s” Top Ten by accident. The 22-year-old from Flushing auditioned for the show as a means to propagate his organization – a group called Milal that assists special needs children. He sought to spread the word, hopefully help the kids he adored. He never thought music, something previously regarded as merely a hobby, would become his life.

He now sings weekly for an audience of millions.

Originally from Korea, Han moved to Queens with his family when he was 12. As a kid, he performed songs in front of his parents and practiced singing in the bathroom, but never received any professional vocal training.

Han’s musical influences include a lineup of legendary balladeers — Michael Bolton, Billy Joel and Michael McDonald. For his first “American Idol” audition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Han sang Michael Bolton’s version of “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” – a performance so moving, it brought Jennifer Lopez to tears.

As he advances to the semi-finals, Han is beginning to feel the pressure. The show keeps its contenders on a rigid schedule. Training sessions consume a majority of their time, strengthening participants’ voices and practicing their song for the following week with mentors and coaches. Han says the contestants do not interact with the show’s three judges — Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson — outside of the few minutes following their performances, when the officials offer their critiques.

Han says the biggest challenge of competing on “American Idol” is holding your ground and remembering yourself in the spotlight.

“It’s hard to know yourself and not act like a star,” said Han. “The circumstances can make you bigheaded. You need to just focus on who you are.”

Regardless of how he wound up a semi-finalist on “American Idol,” Han is ecstatic.

“When I tried out, it was to help my organization at home,” said Han. “Now, I’m in a position where I can help a lot of people. The fact that I get to do stuff for other people, it’s amazing.”

After American Idol’s dozen finalists were narrowed down to 11 before the show even began, Heejun Han took the stage to mixed review from the judges.

Host Ryan Seacrest opened the show by announcing that “with the cooperation of law enforcement we discovered information that left us with no choice but to eliminate one of our finalists from the competition.”

The unnamed finalist that was disqualified was Jermaine Jones, one of the three wildcards chosen by the judges to advance to the top 13.

The remaining contestants performed songs that debuted in the year they were born.

“Dude, for me, I didn’t really enjoy this at all. It was pitchy all over the place,” said judge Randy Jackson to boos from the crowd.

Jackson said he felt it was the wrong song choice and that Han is usually better than what he showed last night.

Steven Tyler agreed that Han didn’t choose the right tune to perform.

“You stepped far outside your circle to do this. It wasn’t a great song for you,” Tyler said before adding that he loves Han’s voice no matter what.

Jennifer Lopez was the most impressed of the three with the Flushing native’s performance.

“I could tell you were struggling with the song a little bit, but then for me I felt like you started fighting through that a little bit more and going for it towards the end and it got really beautiful for me,” Lopez said. “I felt your heart in the song.”

The viewer’s votes will be revealed tonight on American Idol at 8 p.m. on Fox 5. Tune in to see if Han survives to advance to the show’s top 10.

The judges questioned Han’s choice of Robbie Williams’ “Angels,” saying the song did not allow the Queens crooner to fully display his voice.

“I’m not sure if that song showed off all of how beautiful your voice is,” said Lopez, who also called his sound silky smooth.

While Randy Jackson agreed that the song didn’t show everything the “mad talented” Han can do vocally, he added, “I am so happy we found Heejun.”

Viewer votes will choose the five men and five women that advance to the shows finals which begin next week. The women take the stage on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on Fox 5. The show’s 13 finalists — the judges will each select one wild card contestant — will be announced Thursday night at 8 p.m. on Fox 5.

Hundreds of thousands of “American Idol” hopefuls were narrowed down to 24 over the past month, with two Queens crooners making the cut.

Heejun Han, of Flushing, and Astoria’s Creighton Fraker both withstood the auditions, Hollywood and a trip to Las Vegas to make it to the shows semifinals round, and now have the opportunity to sing live in front of America, hopefully earning the viewers’ votes.

Fraker grew up as a preacher’s kid in South Dakota, finding his voice in church choirs and local boys’ singing groups. He took private lessons throughout the years and eventually joined a touring choir, serenading audiences across the nation.

The 28 year old moved to Astoria eight years ago.

For his turn in front of the judges, Fraker belted out Smokey Robinson’s “Who’s Lovin’ You,” as well as an untitled original piece.

“[The judges] had only good things to say. They were shocked at how unique I was,” Fraker told The Courier.

Han, 22, originally from Korea, shocked the judging triumvirate with his audition performance of “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” by Michael Bolton.

“You have a beautiful tone,” Jennifer Lopez told Han, who said he loves singing Soul and R&B.

Han’s Facebook fan page already has nearly 8,000 likes.

In their final performances before the judges, both Fraker and Han paid homage to their hometown singing Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind.”

The semifinalists will be sliced in half during next week’s round. The men will perform Tuesday night with the women singing for the “Idol” lives on Wednesday. Viewer votes will determine the 12 finalists who will compete to become the 11th American Idol on Thursday. Each show airs on Fox 5 at 8 p.m.